Rising Sun by Michael Crichton [Book Review]

Although the primary plot of Rising Sun revolved around the homicide of a young woman, an intrinsic theme is set around the diversities between Japanese and American business. This book revealed the supremacy Japanese business holds over American cultured business and the vivid persuasion that takes place so Japanese always 'win the deal'. It was apparent that the Japanese motto “Business is war” held as a true standard within the story, as Japanese characters would often follow their own rules to outwit American police to preserve high company status. The story starts with the murder of a young woman who was connected to a man with a flourishing amount of money and power. This man, Eddy Sakamura, was also known to be obsessed with women and had threatened some of his bedmates on occasions. Lieutenant Peter Smith was placed on duty with a Japanese liaison officer named John Connor. At the opening the investigation, a security camera tape was found to be missing. To perplex the situation, this tape held the evidence required to reveal the identity of the killer. With John Connor’s unending knowledge and connections with the Japanese culture and the combined wits of Lieutenant Smith, the two struggle to solve the mystery and deliver justice to the hands that deserved it.